As featured on History of War

History of War

Brings together less well known facts concerning, for example, pacifism, conscientious objectors, humanitarian work, human guinea pigs and the post war world.

Military Historical Society

An interesting topic that portrays a complicated time.

Read the full Spanish review here

Miniaturas JM

In my humble opinion, there is a myth that continues to be propagated in relation to the Second World War from a British perspective. Firstly, that it was a ‘just’ war, and that there was complete unity in the United Kingdom in the prosecution of the war. The phrase ‘the Dunkirk Spirit’ is still used today by politicians to invoke national unity and purpose. The truth, as usual, is more nuanced and complicated, and this book delves into this difficult area.

The author holds a PhD and has studied Christians in the Armed Forces during the Second World War. As such, he is well placed to write on this subject, and covers it in depth with some personal examples. There are eleven chapters, beginning with the international situation in the mid-1930’s through to the outbreak of war in Europe. The issue of pacifism in relation to both politics and religion is examined in Chapters 4 and 5, and then in Chapter 8 is the sensitive issue of the use of human guinea pigs in the U.K. for medical trials.

There are some photographs contained in the centre of the book, mainly of some of the people mentioned in the text. The select biography is very useful for people wishing to study the subject area in more depth, and it indicates the sources used by the author. In conclusion, I found this book well written, well researched, and very thought provoking. It will challenge some people’s perception of the Second World War, which makes it an even stronger candidate to be read. I learnt a lot from reading it, so I recommend it highly to other military and social historians.

British Military History, Rob Palmer

This With literarlly thousands of books on the subject of how the British people pulled together to resist Hitler and the Nazis, this book chronicles the work of the pacifists, the other side of the story and equally fascinating.

Books Monthly

The author has provided a balanced history of opposition to WWII. In a readable style he has looked at how these people lived under the slogan “I renounce war”. In support of the text there is a photo-plate section of images.

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Firetrench

This excellent, well-referenced title will be a valuable tool for anyone with pacifist ancestors.

WDYTYA? February 2019 – reviewed by Jad Adams

Article: 'Book looks at anti-war activism' as featured by

Sheffield Telegraph, 9th January 2019 – words by Julia Armstrong

To listen to author interview click the links below

Part 1

Part 2

Branch FM, 22nd January 2019